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Friday, June 05, 2009

Rhode Island Feeling the Pressure to Legalize Same Sex Marriage

(NECN: John Moroney) - Following New Hampshire's decision to approve gay marriage, the debate now shifts to Rhode Island. it’s the only state in New England that has not yet signed off on same-sex unions. Tomorrow gay rights advocates will make their case at the Statehouse.

The debate over gay marriage is not new in Rhode Island, but it is definitely heating up. It could be a long time before Rhode Island approves it, if at all. Two of the big reasons, the leadership at Statehouse opposes it, as does Rhode Island's most influential religious institution, the Catholic Church.

For the last 12 years the legislature has killed attempts to allow same-sex marriage in the state. The pressure seems to be building on lawmakers to do something now. But Christopher Plante, executive director of the National Organization of Marriage's Rhode Island chapter says they need to hold their ground.

16 comments:

It's as if the energy from the opposition has been sucked dry. Soon, even the churches will embrace gay and lesbian marriage. Conquered by love. In another forum, I got "William," a Catholic blogger, to admit that he's thought about having oral sex with another man. LOL...soon it will all be over.

Lilith, I've seen you post a few times in the past, it's good to see you aorund again. I was hoping we could stay in better touch, would you mind clicking on the "follow" button on this blog so you can see what I'm up to? You seem like an allie we could use.

I've got to know, where was this that you got William to admit that? You have to know that they can't keep the hate up when it is one sided for very long. I know love is going to conquer them just like you said.

I'm glad you came over and helped in that conversation, I hope you'll stay and help on that blog period.

Jellie, if you want a blast of "holier-than-thou" you could always follow Lilith and I over to:

It was in a GLBT chat room over at Talk City. He indicated that he is the same William who posts at several Catholic blogs including DTF. I refuted his arguments and it wasn't long before he expressed his fears and frustration that the GLBT movement is defeating even the churches and is so-quickly winning the battles over gay marriage. At one point, after I refuted his objections, he admitted that his anger had been getting the best of him and that he had even thought about gay sex himself. It was one of those beautiful moments when an angry and deluded man admitted that his objections were rooted in prejudice and fear and admitted his own suppressed desires.

We are winning. We will conquer through love indeed. I have found that when intellectual arguments fail, we need to take a more powerful approach. What do I mean? I mean when challenged to try the lifestyle or asked in they have thought about it, often amazing things happen. A simple and direct approach which gets results.

The New Order is upon us. New theologies are replacing the old. A new construct is inevitable. The queer gospel will dominate the old. A new and young generation is demanding new myths. The Age of Aquarius is here now. It will suck the Age of Pisces dry. It will conquer fear and hatred through the power of unrestricted love.

DawnofAquarius, I think you might be right. I have believed for some time now that the Holy Spirit and the second coming of Christ were metaphores for the spirit of love that is inherent in all human beings. The 2012 doomsday for me is more looking like the raidcal realignment of religion to understand that goodness is it's own reward.

Lilith, it might be a pain in the ass but could you go back and find the quote you're talking about so I can cite it. I'm sure you can understand why I would want to have my facts in order, especially when I want to quote that on DTF! ;)

William: "It's just that lately, I have the nagging feeling that we are losing the culture war against same-sex 'marriage.' This, to me, is frustrating as our arguments are not working and we are being steamrolled in the courts and in the court of popular opinion..I have thought about gay sex and it is gravely sinful. But a powerful force which I admit at times has enthralled me. I have thought about it..but have not acted on it. I just feel at times that if we can't beat them we should join them."

And now William has fallen silent at DTF. The brave Catholic wrarior vanquished by a force which will eventually overtake him.

He has been defeated. We need to overcome the others. Seduce them with our arguments and our love. Conquer them by example.

Soon, the churches will just give in. And a new Age will have triumphed.

The opposition is in panic-mode. They cannot beat us and we won't go away. They are paralyzed like a deer in the headlights....lol....and we will conquer them while they are asleep.

Excellent Lilith, now just give me a link to where he said this so when people ask I can point to it.

You are right, it is by our example, our persistence, and our love that they will be forced to reconcile their own homophobia. Once they take a good look in the mirror at what they've allowed themselves to become the change will occur.

And all the while he had a taste for cock himself. Bring them all down. When they have all been exposed as hypocrites, it's really over. Their credibility will be finished. Anyone who has info on the others, share it with John Grinnell.

Oh, and feel free to join us over at DTF while we talk directly to those who oppose us. We need to start making a stronger presence on these blogs in order to help them and their lurkers see the light.

Any and all help in the task is welcome, tell all your friends who would help.

Recommended Reading

Veteran Ben LaGuer

Let me finally return to Dwight Macdonald and the responsibility of intellectuals. Macdonald quotes an interview with a death-camp paymaster who burst into tears when told that the Russians would hang him. "Why should they? What have I done?" he asked. Macdonald concludes: "Only those who are willing to resist authority themselves when it conflicts too intolerably with their personal moral code, only they have the right to condemn the death-camp paymaster." The question, "What have I done?" is one that we may well ask ourselves, as we read each day of fresh atrocities in Vietnam—as we create, or mouth, or tolerate the deceptions that will be used to justify the next defense of freedom.

– Chomsky, The Responsibility of Intellectuals 1967

Words to Remember:

"Juris praecepta sunt haec: honeste vivere; alterum non laedere; suum cuique tribuere"(These are the precepts of the law: To live honorably; to hurt nobody; to render to every one his due.)

"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." -Section 1 of the 14th amendment to the US Constitution

Never Forgotten; Sadly Missed

Lawrence King

GLBT Legends

Paul McMahon and Ralph Hodgdon in 2007

"If you want to be important -- wonderful. If you want to be recognized -- wonderful. If you want to be great -- wonderful. But, recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness." -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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